Portret van John Lockhart 1762 - 1765

This portrait of John Lockhart was made by James McArdell using the method of mezzotint. This printmaking technique involves roughening the entire copper plate, then selectively burnishing areas to create lighter tones. Think of it: the artist is working from dark to light, a true reversal of conventional drawing. The velvety blacks and subtle gradations of tone give the portrait a rich, almost painterly quality. Mezzotint was a labor-intensive process, requiring great skill and patience. Yet, it allowed for the relatively easy reproduction of images, fueling a growing market for prints in the 18th century. McArdell was one of the leading practitioners of this technique. The image displays Lockhart in his naval attire, a visual signifier of his social standing and profession, made possible by a skilled artist and a complex, painstaking printmaking process. Appreciating this mezzotint means recognizing the craft involved, and its place in the culture of its time.